21" CRTs

[fluffysheap]

In the market for a new CRT to replace my 10-year-old 17". Yes, it has to be a CRT. I greatly prefer shadow-mask to Trinitron. Price is not really important, as long as it's not absurd.

As far as I can tell there are only two choices for a 21" shadow mask CRT - the NEC Accusync 120 and the Viewsonic G225F. I'm hoping there's someone out there who has one of these (or some other 21" CRT I have overlooked) that can give me pointers.

The Viewsonic looks a little better on paper, with better dot-pitch, dual inputs (one of them BNC), and higher refresh rates/maximum resolution. I have, however, always been partial to NEC (that's what my current monitor is, and it's been great, but it's starting to show signs of age).

My most important criteria are focus, geometry, convergence, glare, and color accuracy, in that order.

Come on, surely there's someone in the world that still uses CRTs

 

[MDE]

Your best bet is getting a refurb. I got a refurb IBM P260 a while ago and it's been great.

 

[Captante]

I have an Accusync 120 & while it has a very nice picture, its not completely flat, so I'd say go with the Viewsonic... I bought this one really cheap from a friend so I couldn't really choose myself.

Also check out the selection here, mostly Trinitrons but if you want somthing nice, they have a Silicon Graphics 21 inch thats supposed to be new for $449 & a bunch of refurbished Sonys & Dells for a lot less.

http://www.accurateit.com/pricelist.asp

 

[CP5670]

I also have an Accusync 120 on an old computer. The focus and convergence are good, but the screen is curved and the refresh rates are limited; it's not in the same class as my main CRT. Although it is less susceptible to glare than most other CRTs I have seen. The Viewsonic one is still probably better overall.

 

[pkme2]

My Rasterops (Hitachi) 21" CRT is still going. Alas its days are numbered though. It has .22dpi is excellent but its too big and its refresh rate is getting passe.

The CRT is available as refurbished but the shipping would kill you. Other than that, its an excellent monitor. Superior for CAD work.

 

[fluffysheap]

Thanks guys. At most forums, whenever you say "CRT," everyone looks at you funny.
[edit: Just like Bateluer. He's looking at me funny! With that beady yellow eye! ]

It looks like I can't really go wrong with either choice - though everyone that has the NEC seems to think the Viewsonic is probably better, heh. Would still like to hear from somebody that has the Viewsonic, though.

The thing that worries me a little about the Viewsonic is that it is a 90 degree deflection/flat screen monitor, which isn't the greatest combination for focus. I had a 19" 90 deflection/flat screen (not a Viewsonic though) and the focus was *very* uneven between the center and the corners, not sure if that was just a lousy monitor or if it is the flat screen that did it, but I'm skittish of that layout.

I also discovered the Philips 202P73 22" - I guess I could find room for it. Anyone with any experience with that monster? My biggest concern would the weight, I would not want my desk to collapse

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: fluffysheap


Come on, surely there's someone in the world that still uses CRTs

Well, I think most of the major display companies have discontinued CRT production in favor of LCDs now.

 

[Captante]

The Phillips has some good reviews on the web & has a nearly flat Mitsubishi tube, so on paper it looks like a nice moniter, I've never seen one in use though so I can't say for sure... it has the same viewable area as most 21 inch CRT's, so don't let that '22 fool you.

 

[pkme2]

Be aware that Mitsubishi, Sony and Hitachi are 3 major makers of CRT tubes.
Any picture tubes made by them are considered to be the best CRTs at that time.
Their 'seconds' are sold under different brands.

 

[GreenMonkey]

I know you said you prefer shadow mask over Sony, but you need one of these 24" 16:10 CRTs

http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-GDM-FW900-24-F...5QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There's a dude here in Michigan selling the HP version for $199. I just have to convince myself to do the drive to get one and spend the money.

 

[Elvis2]

I know you said you prefer shadow mask over Sony, but you need one of these 24" 16:10 CRTs

awesome monitor. i just picked up two of these from a guy in Miami for $350.00. i sold one for $350.00 so mine just cost about $50.00 in gas. great display and i run my games @ 1920 x 1440 at 100mhz. heavy suckers tho...about 95lbs. i had to reinforce my desk with a couple of 2 x 4's

 

[BFG10K]

Viewsonic still sell new 21" CRTs.

 

[JRW]

Another vote for the Sony FW900 CRT, It's 24" and Widescreen what more could you want I got mine on ebay for $400 shipped alittle over 8 months ago and its been great.

Im curious why anyone would prefer Shadow mask over Trinitron as well ,please dont say it's because of the two extremely thin nearly transparent horizontal lines present on all Trinitron monitors

 

[Golgatha]

I have the Viewsonic G90FB and it is a very nice monitor. I'm sure the 21in version would be equally nice as well.

 

[wwswimming]

Salvation Army in San Diego might still have my old 21" Seiko with the Sony tube. it was a fantastic
monitor but it got dim. had it for about 10 years.

seems like Craigslist there's always people selling old big CRT's for $50. i'm sure some of them are in
good condition.
http://www.craigslist.org/

 

[fluffysheap]

Tons of good information in this thread, especially Captante for his point about the viewable area on the Philips.

Originally posted by: JRW
Another vote for the Sony FW900 CRT, It's 24" and Widescreen what more could you want I got mine on ebay for $400 shipped alittle over 8 months ago and its been great.

My concern with the FW900 is 4:3 stuff. For movies and applications it would be fantastic, I am sure. But if I decide to play a game that doesn't support 16:10 (I'm replacing my PC as soon as all the parts come in, heh), I'm afraid everything would be stretchy-squashy and that is annoying enough to be a dealbreaker. (If the FW900 has a mode like the Dell LCDs to handle 4:3 content correctly - well, I might have to get one, even if it is a used Trinitron.)

95 pounds! :0 Well, it would save me going to the gym, I could just lift the monitor.

Im curious why anyone would prefer Shadow mask over Trinitron as well ,please dont say it's because of the two extremely thin nearly transparent horizontal lines present on all Trinitron monitors

It's because of, uh, erm, *cough* the two extremely thin nearly transparent horizontal lines present on all Trinitron monitors. (Oh, no, now you're looking at me funny too )

 

[Heartbreaker]

Phillips Brilliance 202P. I bought a refurb one with a trinitron, but new ones are avaialbable with shadowmask. I like it as it has an autocalibrate that keeps blacks really black and the range pretty good.

 

[JRW]

Originally posted by: fluffysheap
Tons of good information in this thread, especially Captante for his point about the viewable area on the Philips.

Originally posted by: JRW
Another vote for the Sony FW900 CRT, It's 24" and Widescreen what more could you want I got mine on ebay for $400 shipped alittle over 8 months ago and its been great.

My concern with the FW900 is 4:3 stuff. For movies and applications it would be fantastic, I am sure. But if I decide to play a game that doesn't support 16:10 (I'm replacing my PC as soon as all the parts come in, heh), I'm afraid everything would be stretchy-squashy and that is annoying enough to be a dealbreaker. (If the FW900 has a mode like the Dell LCDs to handle 4:3 content correctly - well, I might have to get one, even if it is a used Trinitron.)

95 pounds! :0 Well, it would save me going to the gym, I could just lift the monitor.

Im curious why anyone would prefer Shadow mask over Trinitron as well ,please dont say it's because of the two extremely thin nearly transparent horizontal lines present on all Trinitron monitors

It's because of, uh, erm, *cough* the two extremely thin nearly transparent horizontal lines present on all Trinitron monitors. (Oh, no, now you're looking at me funny too )

If you dont like seeing black bars on the sides when viewing 4:3 content then you can manualy stretch the screen on the FW900 , or leave it be for proper aspect ratio, but I havent come across a game that I cant get running 16:10 (unless its REALLY old) ,When I do theres always a way to edit the .ini /.cfg file to manualy specify a widescreen resolution, There's a widescreen gaming forum dedicated to this information here.

If you can get past Trinitron's tension wires (They never bothered me, you can only really see them on a white backround!) then you'll appreciate a Trinitrons brighter & vibrant output advantage over Shadow mask as well as improved geometry, Theres a good read on shadowmask vs. aperture grille here.

And just to give an idea of the massive screen area you get on the FW900 heres a pic of one sitting next to a 22" Mitsubishi: Link

 

[Brian48]

Dunno if they still make them any more, but I absolutely love my 21" Dell P1130. One of the best investments I've ever made in a piece of hardware.

 

[kmmatney]

I'm looking at you funny...

If you haven't been to this site, its worth a look. Plenty of 21+" CRTs.

http://www.azatek.com/pricelist.asp?CID=59&view=all

A friend of mine bought a 22" CRT from them, and is generally happy with it. The tension wires never bothered me - I had several trinitrons in the day, and still have a few 17"ers in the basement. But then again, I think LCDs are now better than CRTs...

 

[lanielf]

Get a viewsonic P810 refurb on ebay, they rocks .. and under 100$ 21 inches lol
1280*960 at 85hz

 

[josh6079]

Do you guys think this is a good buy?

http://www.azatek.com/details.asp?iid=483

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: MDE
Your best bet is getting a refurb. I got a refurb IBM P260 a while ago and it's been great.

i got the same. BUT its got this ugly rid sign ( i think win94 startup screen) burned into into it.
do check out a refurb if you buy one.

 

[OnEMoReTrY]

Originally posted by: josh6079
Do you guys think this is a good buy?

http://www.azatek.com/details.asp?iid=483

Thats the monitor I've been using for the past 2 years, and i am totally in love with it, it also usually gets really really good reviews, excellent monitor w/ no regrets! I would highly recommend it. 1600*1200 @ 85hz = hawt.

 

[josh6079]

Originally posted by: OnEMoReTrY

Originally posted by: josh6079
Do you guys think this is a good buy?

http://www.azatek.com/details.asp?iid=483

Thats the monitor I've been using for the past 2 years, and i am totally in love with it, it also usually gets really really good reviews, excellent monitor w/ no regrets! I would highly recommend it. 1600*1200 @ 85hz = hawt.

What about using its 2048x1536@106.3Hz?